Vote for Best Players in 2019

    Quote from Bogdan123

    Number of stars players in Vakif and Eczacibasi is arguable and that is not basic diference between Ecz and Vakif in previous years. IMO that was better local player stronger MB and BETTER coach and team chemistry. Results of Vakif and Eczacibasi are not way of compare Zhu and Boskovic as player. One more important thing you mentioned before is that their starting point were diferent, but you obviously dont know from where Boskovic does. She played before Turkey in Vizura in Serbian league which is definetly worse than CVL and without lot of money.

    Both of them started at no name team / club. Boskovic has an earlier starting point going to strong / big club because she controls her destiny she can sign any contract without approval from the league. Whereas Zhu was under Henan club which controlled basically her destiny just like most 🇨🇳 players. Guidetti was interested to sign Zhu when he saw her 2013; it was only 2016 Guidetti got Zhu to join his team. Boskovic and Zhu could had been teammates in Vitra, but there was a condition from her team that Zhu had to play for Henan for the National games. Vitra did not agreed, so Zhu signed with Vakif.

    Quote from USAvolleyfan

    I can't believe people actually voted, and there are still some users arguing about who's the best

    This is not really argument who is the best. It isn't even one single argument. The last two dozen posts or so have been about many things, but not really about the best player of this year (which is the ostensible purpose of this thread and vote).

    Quote from benchwarmer

    Vitra has had stellar players as much as Vakif has had. In fact, I think Vitra had bigger stars (accomplished players) from 2016 to 2019 like Neslihan, Maja, Kosheleva, Larson and KYK (the latter two were MVP and captains (NT and club) aside from Boskovic. Vakif 2016 to 2019 had Naz, Hill, Rasic, Sloetjes and Robinson. So Boskovic is ahead of 2 years in Turkish leagues 2015/2016 and 2019/2020. There is no way to fairly compare these two great players.

    Well let's not forget that Zhu is 3 years older than Boskoviç, so starting pointwise she was already more mature when she come to Turkey whereas Boskoviç was just a teenager.

    Quote from serdar

    Well let's not forget that Zhu is 3 years older than Boskoviç, so starting pointwise she was already more mature when she come to Turkey whereas Boskoviç was just a teenager.

    Maturity and experience are not the same. Experiences are gained through participation / living through them. Age does not always equate maturity- one can be younger but more mature in thinking. Boskovic started playing in 2010 in a local team (don’t know If it was professional team then the following year she was in a professional team (Ok Vizura). She started playing at the age of 11; at 17 y.o. She played for NT at European Junior tournament ; at 18 y.o. She started playing big time club/ league (Vitra/ Turkish)- senior tournaments and member of NT senior. Zhu started playing volleyball when she was 13 y.o. (2007); at 17 y.o. participated at 2011 FIVB U18 World Championship (girls);at 18 y.o. played professional for Guandong and 2012 Asian Junior Women’s Volleyball Championship; at 19 y.o. her first exposure to the senior women’s world tournaments and member of NT senior. Boskovic has more experience since she is exposed to power and speed which is the trend - Europeans, Americans, South Americans are more physically powerful. Zhu did not experience much the power and speed of volleyball until she joined Vakif. Her experience of speed and powerful matches were in international /world tournaments (non Asian). Boskovic has a better head start in experience. Certainly, Zhu’s body is more matured because she is older. In sports, younger is better.

    Gamova won 2 WCH and never won a OG, while Sheilla won 2 OG and never a WCH.


    Zhu is missing a WCH, and I just wonder if she will keep playing for the NT after Tokyo. Boskovic has a WCH but not yet a OG.


    For Zhu, 2022 WCH could be her last chance of a WCH GOLD....or not, because China will always be a power house and a favorite to win any tournament, so as long as Zhu wants to play, she will have a good chance of winning it.........while for Boskovic, Serbia is a different reality, and Boskovic certainly will be playing in 2024, but her chances to even qualify for Paris will depend on the level of her teammates and the level of other European Teams.


    I want Boskovic (Serbia) to win Gold in Tokyo ...and Zhu (China) WCH Gold in 2022.

    Quote from benchwarmer

    Maturity and experience are not the same. Experiences are gained through participation / living through them. Age does not always equate maturity- one can be younger but more mature in thinking. Boskovic started playing in 2010 in a local team (don’t know If it was professional team then the following year she was in a professional team (Ok Vizura). She started playing at the age of 11; at 17 y.o. She played for NT at European Junior tournament ; at 18 y.o. She started playing big time club/ league (Vitra/ Turkish)- senior tournaments and member of NT senior. Zhu started playing volleyball when she was 13 y.o. (2007); at 17 y.o. participated at 2011 FIVB U18 World Championship (girls);at 18 y.o. played professional for Guandong and 2012 Asian Junior Women’s Volleyball Championship; at 19 y.o. her first exposure to the senior women’s world tournaments and member of NT senior. Boskovic has more experience since she is exposed to power and speed which is the trend - Europeans, Americans, South Americans are more physically powerful. Zhu did not experience much the power and speed of volleyball until she joined Vakif. Her experience of speed and powerful matches were in international /world tournaments (non Asian). Boskovic has a better head start in experience. Certainly, Zhu’s body is more matured because she is older. In sports, younger is better.

    Zhu lost a WCH for Boskovic and lost a CL and Club WCH for Egonu.


    in 2019 Boskovic won, Turkish Cup (MVP) , Kupa Volley (MVP) , ECH (MVP), Silver in Turkish League and Club WCH.


    Egonu won Italian Cup, SuperCup (MVP), CL (MVP), CLub WCH (MVP) and Silver Serie A, Bronze ECH.


    Zhu won Turkish League (MVP).


    The competition among them is very stiff, but Zhu lost some ground in 2019....Let`s see who will come on top in 2020.


    Another Award for Boskovic....:cup:


    and I did not even had to vote for her to win.... :drink:...

    Quote from benchwarmer

    Maturity and experience are not the same. Experiences are gained through participation / living through them. Age does not always equate maturity- one can be younger but more mature in thinking. Boskovic started playing in 2010 in a local team (don’t know If it was professional team then the following year she was in a professional team (Ok Vizura). She started playing at the age of 11; at 17 y.o. She played for NT at European Junior tournament ; at 18 y.o. She started playing big time club/ league (Vitra/ Turkish)- senior tournaments and member of NT senior. Zhu started playing volleyball when she was 13 y.o. (2007); at 17 y.o. participated at 2011 FIVB U18 World Championship (girls);at 18 y.o. played professional for Guandong and 2012 Asian Junior Women’s Volleyball Championship; at 19 y.o. her first exposure to the senior women’s world tournaments and member of NT senior. Boskovic has more experience since she is exposed to power and speed which is the trend - Europeans, Americans, South Americans are more physically powerful. Zhu did not experience much the power and speed of volleyball until she joined Vakif. Her experience of speed and powerful matches were in international /world tournaments (non Asian). Boskovic has a better head start in experience. Certainly, Zhu’s body is more matured because she is older. In sports, younger is better.

    Im not taking about only mental level maturity. One's game improve by repetition drastically. So in early ages 3 years of age make big difference. Being younger is only advantage after 30s before that being more experienced is advantage since it brings more excellence in techniques. Also zhu had a headstart in training compartment since she worked the best 2 trainer in the world.


    Also I don't get the argument of 'zhu hasn't experienced playing against fast teams'. Teams like Japan and Thailand are the fastest teams in the world and Zhu get the chance to play against them. So what's your point?

    Quote from serdar

    Also I don't get the argument of 'zhu hasn't experienced playing against fast teams'. Teams like Japan and Thailand are the fastest teams in the world and Zhu get the chance to play against them. So what's your point?

    I think benchwarmer will point out he's saying "fast and powerful", not just fast.


    What's interesting to me is that many teams around the world, especially USANT, often play fast(er) in the one-off: a good service reception, pass and kill. Like Big Cats. Asian teams, Japan and Thailand anyway, are more like wild dogs. The longer the rally goes, the faster they get. Different conditioning, different kill strategy.


    Sorry for off topic

    Quote from serdar

    Im not taking about only mental level maturity. One's game improve by repetition drastically. So in early ages 3 years of age make big difference. Being younger is only advantage after 30s before that being more experienced is advantage since it brings more excellence in techniques. Also zhu had a headstart in training compartment since she worked the best 2 trainer in the world.


    Also I don't get the argument of 'zhu hasn't experienced playing against fast teams'. Teams like Japan and Thailand are the fastest teams in the world and Zhu get the chance to play against them. So what's your point?

    the power / force of the ball. Asian teams do not have the strong spikes and the force of the strong spike equate to faster balls? If you add up, the time between when Zhu Ting and Boskovic started playing , they are almost at the same time. I Year difference. If Boskovic was 11y.o. Zhu was 14y.o.

    Quote from sitenoise

    I think benchwarmer will point out he's saying "fast and powerful", not just fast.


    What's interesting to me is that many teams around the world, especially USANT, often play fast(er) in the one-off: a good service reception, pass and kill. Like Big Cats. Asian teams, Japan and Thailand anyway, are more like wild dogs. The longer the rally goes, the faster they get. Different conditioning, different kill strategy.


    Sorry for off topic

    Right! That is what I mean.

    I don't think it is a different strategy. Japan does not have the height, but mostly important, they simply create players to be weaker rather than stronger. Gabi, Fe Garay, Sylla, C and L Boseti and so many others are short but they are strong. Japanese volleyball has yet to realize that a physical and strong player can still pass and defend. But they are afraid to make their players stronger because they think they won't be able to defend.


    Remember last year everyone saying Egonu would not be able to play fast and Fabris not a good fit for Russian league? Maja just as fast as Woloz against Conegliano..


    Great Players adapt to any system.

    Mediocre players won't.

    Quote from pope

    But they are afraid to make their players stronger because they think they won't be able to defend.

    :?:


    Who told you that :rolll:

    Quote from pope

    They are still playing like they were 20 years ago.....I kinda figured that. :whistling:

    Well :) we all make mistakes :whistle:

    Quote from sitenoise

    Well :) we all make mistakes :whistle:

    Japanese Volleyball has always focused on defense (digging) due to the height disadvantage. They are not going to outblock teams and digging the ball to keep it in play is a must.
    I have harped about using the middle more on offense with Japan because the use it so much less than other teams.

    Erika Araki and Fabiana Claudino just finished the regular season in Japan where both played 21 matches. Araki who is a year older and had better kill percentage (2.7%) and more blocks per set than Fabiana (.06 blocks per set). Araki is 8 cm shorter that Fabiana.

    Araki had played 6 more sets but had 50 fewer attempts at spiking compared to Fabiana. It helps that Neriman Ozsoy is her teammate, but they don’t use her as much even though she is an effective player at the net.

    Quote from brahmin

    Japanese Volleyball has always focused on defense (digging) due to the height disadvantage. They are not going to outblock teams and digging the ball to keep it in play is a must.
    I have harped about using the middle more on offense with Japan because the use it so much less than other teams.

    Erika Araki and Fabiana Claudino just finished the regular season in Japan where both played 21 matches. Araki who is a year older and had better kill percentage (2.7%) and more blocks per set than Fabiana (.06 blocks per set). Araki is 8 cm shorter that Fabiana.

    Araki had played 6 more sets but had 50 fewer attempts at spiking compared to Fabiana. It helps that Neriman Ozsoy is her teammate, but they don’t use her as much even though she is an effective player at the net.

    Japan can not block and they focus on defense instead. But you can`t win a game by just playing defense. You win a game by scoring points. Is not like China can block and defend Boskovic and Egonu a lot, or if that is a weapon in order to beat Italy and Serbia.....they might block and defend them only a few times. So I would not expect Japan,Korea,Thailand to block or defend them.


    Japan gotta keep defending, but they still must play offense and they must find a way to score points.


    And this Araki example is perfect.....It shows what I have said before. Japanese teams does not believe on the local players, and they automatically think they can only win with the foreigner scoring. I even said this is a "cheap" way of winning. So when they are playing for the NT, who`s gonna score? who`s gonna take charge?.... when there`s foreigner on the court.


    They must believe they can score despite their height.....but they gotta have the arms in order to do that. (Gabi, Herbots, Bosetti, Lazovic and so on).

    I'll bet I could get the Admins to close this thread if I respond to it :white:

    Man, I don't know why but for some reason this made me so sad.


    There is no question that Boskovic is one of the top 3 volleyball players in the world right now, but the idea that she could possibly miss the 2024 OG is just insane. She'd be 27 I think, which would be the golden age for volleyball players, especially European ones. (I think Asian volleyball players tend to peak a bit younger)


    Just goes to show the importance of the teams behind all these MVPs that our favourite athletes win over and over again.


    Also it's way easier for Zhu & China to qualify for 2022 WCh, just to expand on your point I guess...


    Zhu has previously stated that she wants to play 3 OG cycles, so until Paris 2024. She'd be 29 and honestly I do think she can play another cycle until LA 2028, since she's been training more scientifically than previous generations of Chinese NT players so they don't end up broken past 30. Although it's far from a certainty that they will be favorites by then, since both Yao Di and Ding Xia are not young and the 2nd MB is a question mark too. But I do see China's starting 7 plus Li Yingying (minus Ding Xia and Yan Ni, the two teammates from Liaoning) playing on for a long long time.